Air Polution
Carly Horton
What You Need to Know
- research shows that the effects of air pollution can cause asthma and sometimes lead to premature death
- ozone may affect the heart and lungs.research from 2006 linked exposures to high ozone levels for as little as one hour increases the risk of premature death and strokE
How to Protect Yourself
- take steps to limit the amount of air you breathe in while you're outside. For example:Think about spending more time indoors, where particle pollution levels are usually lower.
- Choose easier outdoor activities (like walking instead of running) so you don't breathe as hard.
- Avoid busy roads and highways where PM is usually worse because of emissions from cars and trucks.
How can You Help
- Conserve energy - turn off appliances and lights when you leave the room.
- Recycle paper, plastic, glass bottles, cardboard, and aluminum cans. (This conserves energy and reduces production emissions.)
- Plant deciduous trees in locations around your home to provide shade in the summer, but to allow light in the winter.
- Buy green electricity-produced by low-or even zero-pollution facilities.
- Connect your outdoor lights to a timer or use solar lighting.
- Wash clothes with warm or cold water instead of hot.
- Lower the thermostat on your water heater to 120F.
- Use low-VOC or water-based paints, stains, finishes, and paint strippers.
- Test your home for radon-a dangerous, radioactive gas that is odorless and tasteless. If the test shows elevated levels of radon, the problem can be fixed cost effectively.
- Choose not to smoke in your home, especially if you have children. If you or your visitors must smoke, then smoke outside.